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From Coffee To Crypto Us Lawmakers Push To Use Bitcoin For Daily Life
GameFi Guides

From Coffee to Crypto US Lawmakers Push to Use Bitcoin for Daily Life

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Senator Cynthia Lummis and ex-Congressman Mike Rogers aim to simplify the use of Bitcoin for ordinary transactions, such as purchasing coffee or groceries. At present, even small-scale Bitcoin deals may call for tax reporting, which many find too complex and deters users from making Bitcoin an integral part of their daily lives.

They recently assisted in passing the GENIUS Act, a bill that is aimed at making stablecoins have well-defined rules. The act wants to safeguard consumers without inhibiting innovation. It makes sure that firms that issue the digital coins abide by good rules and have sufficient financial buffers.

While the GENIUS Act is a big achievement, Lummis and Rogers say it’s just the beginning. They believe Congress must also create clear definitions for different types of digital assets. Some digital assets should be treated like commodities (such as gold), while others should be treated like securities (such as stocks). This would help businesses know which rules to follow and give regulators more clarity.

States such as Wyoming and Michigan are already at the forefront of crypto-friendly legislation. Michigan just recently enacted a “Cryptocurrency Bill of Rights” and suggested establishing a state government-run crypto reserve. Wyoming has enacted more than 30 crypto-specific laws, demonstrating how states can be quicker than the federal government.

The lawmakers also want to end “double taxation” on Bitcoin, such as taxes both when it’s mined and when it’s sold. They’re pushing to fix corporate tax rules that currently hurt Bitcoin holders.

Also Read: Senator Lummis Says Flawed Tax Rules Unfairly Target Bitcoin



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Gaggia Classic coffee maker on kitchen counter
Gaming Gear

I’ve tested 13 coffee makers over the last year, but this Gaggia machine is still my all-time favorite

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I’ve tested a new coffee maker every month for the past year here at TechRadar, and there have been some real gems.

The Jura J10, for instance, is a fully automatic powerhouse for creating hot and cold beverages at the touch of a button, while the manual Smeg Mini Pro is frankly gorgeous, and excellent for consistency.

However, no matter how many other machines I try, there’s still just one sitting on my kitchen counter at the end of the day: the Gaggia Classic Pro.


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It’s a very popular little manual espresso machine, and for good reason. It’s a lot of fun to use, it’s a tinkerer’s dream – and at around $500 / £400 / AU$800 it’s moderately priced, too.

  • Gaggia RI9380 Classic Pro at Amazon for $454.27

There’s a lot to like about this machine. In our Gaggia Classic Pro review, we stated that it’s a “good-looking, well-built appliance” and that “it proved super-easy to brew intense, smooth espressos with very little experimentation required.”

However, when new, Lady Gaggia (as we call her at home) isn’t without her quirks.

For example, there’s not masses of space between the portafilter and the drip tray, which means you can only fit small cups underneath (I usually use a shot glass with measures printed on the side). Plus, the tray is so narrow you can forget about putting a scale underneath to weigh the coffee as it drips out.

There’s no PID controller to keep the temperature stable like you get in some premium coffee machines, either, and the Gaggia’s small boiler means you might run out of steam (quite literally) before you’ve finished preparing your milk.

The upside is that there’s a great community of hobbyists tinkering with this hugely popular little machine, sharing advice, and even selling kits that let you modify it to your heart’s content – like the example in the Reddit post below.

Guys I finally made the upgrade to a PID from Barista Gadgets. from r/gaggiaclassic

For example, US-based Barista Gadgets and UK site Shades of Coffee sell longer drip trays that can accommodate a scale, and shallower trays so you can use a larger cup. There are also devices that continually add a small amount of water to the boiler, so you can keep steaming milk for longer without it running dry.

Shades of Coffee makes and sells heads for the machine’s steam arm too, plus colored lighting kits to illuminate the water tank so you can see the level more easily (and that make it look like a gaming PC). And if your Gaggia still doesn’t look cool enough, you can even pick up a wooden knob to replace the plastic one that controls the steam pressure.

Feeling really geeky? Take a look at Gaggiuino, which is an open source project that aims to make your machine as consistent as possible, letting you control the pressure, temperature, and flow of each shot.

Want to learn more? Take a look at the Gaggia Classic subreddit, where you’ll find a whole community of friendly coffee-lovers sharing their tips for mods, maintenance and repairs, and generally having fun. If you’re looking for a new hobby, this is the best coffee maker for you.

Today’s best Gaggia Classic deals

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Never Drink Alone: A Guide to Turkish Coffee
Gaming Gear

Never Drink Alone: A Guide to Turkish Coffee

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Out of all caffeinated rituals, Turkish coffee takes the (coffee) cake. That’s because, according to some experts, Turkish coffee isn’t a type of coffee—it’s a cooking method. Commonly seen across Middle Eastern cultures, the beverage looks and acts similar to espresso, served in a small cup and tasting very rich yet very different.

Turkish coffee is made with coffee ground finer than espresso (the ideal Turkish coffee grind has a flourlike consistency) and a brewing process that involves boiling three times. It’s an unfiltered drink, so the coffee grounds eventually settle to the bottom of the cup. The grounds make for a thick drink, but they also play an important role in the auspicious ritual of fortune telling, a practice that ultimately inspired my love for the brew.

My introduction to Turkish coffee was with my sister’s Iranian family (we have different fathers. Her father, Ali, is from Iran). Upon visiting them to celebrate the Persian New Year, my sister’s aunt made Turkish coffee after dinner one evening and a family friend proceeded to “read” the coffee grounds and tell us our fortunes (I dive into the specifics of this process more below). While I cannot adhere to the validity of fortune telling, I will say that the family friend predicted I’d have a son. That was over 10 years ago. At the end of 2024, I gave birth to my first child, a healthy baby boy.

But you don’t have to get your fortune told to enjoy Turkish coffee. You also don’t have to search too far and wide across the coffee forums to find strong opinions about the strong coffee and how it should be made. This was possibly my biggest setback in research, as there are those who suggest beginning the brew with hot water, while others suggest cold water. Some suggest sugar, others without. Some suggest high heat, others low. You might have even seen Turkish coffee being prepared in sand. (The owner at my local Palestinian deli tells me that this is mostly a tourist gimmick.)

So, to the coffee nerds, the anal and the meticulous, if you’re hoping for a “right” way to make Turkish coffee, I hate to disappoint you. Those who make Turkish coffee in their home regularly measure and brew with their heart, and each household has a similar but almost always slightly different method. It’s your preferences that will ultimately guide the ins and outs of your brewing.

Table of Contents

What Is Turkish Coffee?

Turkish coffee is often served in a cup that’s usually no more than 2 ounces. It might look similar to espresso, but while espresso is brewed under high pressure, Turkish coffee is brewed by boiling finely ground (even more fine of a grind than espresso) coffee in a cezve. A cezve (referred to as an ibrik in other countries like Palestine) is a small pot with a long handle, usually holding around 10 to 15 ounces and made out of copper.

Generally, Turkish coffee is boiled in the cezve in three parts. After each boil, a small amount is poured into the coffee cup. The cezve is returned to the stove after each pour until you’ve filled your cups. The process of boiling the coffee multiple creates a thick and frothy coffee that is very strong and very aromatic.

Ideally, Turkish coffee is ground with a traditional Turkish coffee grinder like this. Because Turkish coffee is ground to a fineness that most commercial coffee grinders cannot achieve, your best bet is to buy it pre-ground (I’ve suggested a few brands below). I almost considered using my Sana Grain Mill (8/10, WIRED Recommends) to see if I could achieve the grind, but didn’t want to risk the coffee flavor in my homemade flour.

The Process

Traditionally, finely ground Turkish coffee is mixed with water in a cezve, along with some sugar, depending on your preferences. You’ll bring the coffee to a boil on low/medium heat over an open flame, usually in three parts. The first boil will develop a foam (think crema, as seen in other coffee drinks). This foam is essential to Turkish coffee, as the drink’s frothy thickness makes it stand out from others. Some recipes suggest using a spoon to scoop the initial foam into your prepared cups. Otherwise, you’ll use the cezve to pour it into your prepared coffee cups a little at a time. Put the cezve back on the stove to boil and repeat this process twice more until you’ve filled your coffee cups to the rim.

As I mentioned earlier, it’s important to note that, unlike other coffee styles in which technicality is prioritized with scales and thermometers, you’ll see neither of these aspects come into play when making Turkish coffee. With roots that date back to the 16th century in the Ottoman Empire, Turkish coffee is a drink integrated into and born of a culture. So, think of Turkish coffee like your grandma’s cooking—a recipe acts as a guide, but it is ultimately a process that is led with the heart.

The Tradition of Fortune Telling

You may not place much stock in auspicious practices, and I don’t blame you. But in case you’re curious, there are traditions to be respected.

The fortune-telling process begins once you’ve finished your drink. You’ll place your coffee cup upside down on its saucer. The grounds will drip and scatter, and this is what the fortune teller will analyze to determine your fortune.

Kurukahveci Mehmet Efendi

Turkish Coffee

Just as my family friend read my coffee grounds on that fateful day 10 years ago, the practice of fortune telling through Turkish coffee should be done by someone who is experienced in the craft. It is strongly suggested that you do not try to read your own fortune.

This act of fortune telling also establishes something important when it comes to Turkish coffee: It’s a social activity—something meant to be enjoyed with company. It’s not a science. A great example of this is my local Palestinian deli using hot water to make its Turkish coffee. Beginning with hot water may go against what some coffee aficionados recommend (beginning with cold water is usually ideal for any brewing process to achieve optimal flavor and extraction), but many places selling Turkish coffee do this to speed up the process and serve their customers more quickly. When making the recipe below, don’t focus on being too technical.

Demmex

Turkish Coffee Full Serving Set

Turkish Coffee Recipe

Yields 2 2-ounce cups of Turkish coffee

Equipment

  • 1 cezve
  • 2 small (2 oz.) coffee cups

Ingredients

  • 2 heaping Tbsp Turkish coffee
  • 6 ounces water
  • 1 tsp sugar (optional)

Instructions

Combine Turkish coffee, sugar, and water in your cezve. Stir until combined. Put cezve over a low/medium gas stove flame and slowly bring to a boil over a couple of minutes (if it boils too fast, it’s harder to develop the initial foam). Once boiling to the top, quickly take the cezve off the stove and pour a small amount into your prepared cups (about half an ounce).

Return the cezve to the open flame and bring to a boil. Repeat steps 3 to 4 twice more until you’ve filled your cups to the brim. Serve immediately.





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7 Best Coffee Pod Machines (2025), Tested and Reviewed
Product Reviews

7 Best Coffee Pod Machines (2025), Tested and Reviewed

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I was really annoyed when I realized that Nespresso sent me this brewer in black. Champagne problems, I know—but this brewer comes in so many delightful colors, from deep red and orange to pastel lavender and pink. It looks cute on your countertop with its little rounded figure and relatively short stature. The Vertuo Pop+ can handle all Vertuo coffee pods. The pods are aluminum and can be recycled by ordering free recycling bags or taking them to a drop-off location. To brew, simply open the machine by twisting the lock on the lid, choose a capsule, and press the button. You can physically move the adjustable drip tray between two ladder-like rungs on the front of the machine. There’s also a companion app that gives you maintenance alerts, video walk-throughs, and easy pod reordering.

Closing and locking the machine, or pressing the coffee button while the machine is locked, will start a heating cycle that takes about 30 seconds. The machine automatically recognizes the capsule you insert, and it extracts brew size based on the capsule as well. For example, espresso capsules will brew 1.35 ounces, double espresso capsules brew 2.7 ounces, and coffee capsules brew 8 ounces. This is different from other machines where you select the capacity you want. In the app you can make minor tweaks, such as making espresso shots shorter or longer. You can press the coffee button to end brewing early (a very handy trick if you accidentally use a 6-ounce mug for an 8-ounce brew, which I may or may not have done.) The machine has a waste basket that’ll automatically collect spent capsules. I’m not a huge fan of Nespresso’s flavored coffee and espresso capsules, simply because I would rather make traditional coffee and then add any whimsical flavorings later to suit my tastes. But if you prefer your coffee with a side of caramel or gingerbread or almond or some other decadent altering, there are many flavored options for you.

With plain old coffee and espresso capsules, I found myself pleasantly surprised by the body and mouthfeel of the drinks. Technically, these espresso pods are not making espresso. But it’s a darn close espresso-like beverage, and you can get it without needing an entire separate machine with a tamping weight and a portafilter and a pressure gauge. And the coffee is on par or slightly better than other machines I’ve tried, with a nice acidic bite that isn’t too watered down. If convenience is what you seek, this do-it-all machine is worth a look.

I was sent the bundle that comes with an optional milk frother. I like having the option, but be aware that it will take up another wall outlet. But the Aeroccino was easy to use—pour in your milk of choice and press the button. It’ll heat and froth your milk automatically—it takes about a minute and it’s whisper-quiet. Every Nespresso capsule I’ve tried has featured a thick layer of crema, and having whipped, thick milk on top of it made my average cup of coffee a more elevated experience.

Brew capacities1-12 ouncesAvailable colors14Dimensions8.6″D x 14″W x 10.4″HWarranty1 yearRecycling informationCapsules are recyclable



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Embracer Group sees net sales across PC/console and mobile games fall in FY2024/25
Esports

Embracer intends to spin off Coffee Stain Group by the end of 2025, with remaining business rebranded as Fellowship Entertainment

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Embracer intends to spin off its Coffee Stain Group into a “standalone group of community-driven game developers and publishers” by the end of 2025.

The company announced it would split into three individual companies – Asmodee, Coffee Stain and Friends, and Fellowship Entertainment (previously known as Middle Earth & Friends) – in April 2024.

In this case, Coffee Stain Group – which will consist of “more than 250 passionate game developers and publishers, focused on community driven experiences” – will include Coffee Stain, Ghost Ship, and Tuxedo Labs as well as “certain studios” from Amplifier Game Invest, all based in Scandinavia. Anton Westbergh, CEO and co-founder of Coffee Stain, will become Group CEO.

“The shares in Coffee Stain Group will be distributed to the shareholders of Embracer, and are intended to be listed on the Nasdaq First North Premier Growth Market in Stockholm. Fellowship Entertainment (current Embracer Group) will remain listed on Nasdaq Stockholm and have around 6000 employees across 30 countries, “stewarding” the commercial rights to J.R.R. Tolkien’s works, as well as IPs like Kingdom Come Deliverance, Metro, Dead Island, Killing Floor, Darksiders, Remnant, and Tomb Raider.

“We’re really proud of everything we’ve built as part of Embracer, and grateful for the support and trust we’ve received over the years. Now, as we take the step to become a separately listed company, it feels both exciting and, honestly, a little bit scary – but in a good way,” said Anton Westbergh, co-founder and Group CEO of Coffee Stain.

The games industry is more competitive than ever, but also more rewarding if you do things right, and we believe this move gives us the clarity and control to navigate the landscape better on our own terms. We can now focus even more on what we do best – supporting our developers, staying close to our communities, and building an even brighter future for Coffee Stain.

Lars Wingefors, co-founder and Group CEO of Embracer, added: “Coffee Stain Group has incredible talent, IPs and communities. To date, it has been a true recipe for success. I am confident in Anton’s strategy and leadership and see a clear long-term opportunity in attracting and enabling partnerships with like-minded independent game developers and talents.”

Earlier today, we reported THQ Nordic’s studio Campfire Cabal has returned after being shuttered in 2023. Announcing the news, the developer disputed it had ever “shut down” despite closing as part of THQ Nordic’s parent company Embracer’s restructuring efforts.



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Embracer Group says it'll put out 76 different games in the coming year, as it ditches friends for a fellowship and spins off Goat Sim publisher Coffee Stain
Game Reviews

Embracer Group says it’ll put out 76 different games in the coming year, as it ditches friends for a fellowship and spins off Goat Sim publisher Coffee Stain

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Damn, the nice little friendship thing Embracer Group had decided to morph into after earning the ire of lots of folks by going hard on the layoffs, closures and sales is no more.

The company’s decided to ditch the “and friends” tag it had given to different bits of its business, and form a fellowship, as it does yet more corporate shuffling around. It does also plan to actually release some more games.

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As announced by Embracer, the bit of previously dubbed Middle-Earth and Friends will now be known as Fellowship Entertainment. As you might have guessed, that’s the part that looks after The Lord of the Rings, as well as housing the studios behind likes of Kingdom Come Deliverance, Tomb Raider, the Metro series, and Dead Island.

With Asmodee, the second of the three bits Embracer divided itself into last year, having spun off from the company as of February this year, it’s the turn of the third bit formerly known as Coffee Stain & Friends to do the same. Now named Coffee Stain Group, the subsidiary that includes the dev teams behind the likes of Deep Rock Galactic, Valheim and Goat Simulator is being released into the economic wild as a separately stock market-listed company.

“The games industry is more competitive than ever, but also more rewarding if you do things right, and we believe this move gives us the clarity and control to navigate the landscape better on our own terms,” Coffee Stain Group CEO Anton Westbergh said, “We can now focus even more on what we do best—supporting our developers, staying close to our communities, and building an even brighter future for Coffee Stain.”

Right, that’s enough on the corporate shuffling of people’s livelihoods. In the financial results it’s published alongside this spin-off announcement, Embracer says that it’s got “76 different games” it plans to release in the coming financial year. There’ll be “a mix of new IPs, sequels, and remasters”, including Killing Floor 3 and the recently delayed Marvel 1943: Rise of Hydra, with Embracer expecting the latter to “drive notable revenues but to have lower margins due to shared economics with several other partners”.

Another as of yet unannounced AAA game that Embracer things will have “financial dynamics more similar to Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2” is also in the works, but the company reckons it’ll have to be pushed back to the 2026/27 financial year to allow for more “polish”

The rest of the lineup for the upcoming is being filled by the likes of Deep Rock Galactic: Rogue Core, Metal Eden, and “the next SpongeBob SquarePants game”. Spongebob Squarepants tries to get to the Bikini Bottom of where Embracer’s friends have gone, maybe?



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